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October 31, 2011 

Welcome to our weekly memo featuring news, tips, resources, and reminders to help you stay in the know. 

Medtronic and Corporate Responsibility
 Thank you to Medtronic for giving employees a day off with pay to volunteer in the community. Recently employees attended Parent Leader training at Raising Special Kids. The experience resulted in wonderfully positive insights for both trainers and trainees, along with a request for Raising Special Kids to offer a presentation about family support services for Medtronic employees.

NCLB no more? The Senate Drafts its Own ESEA

From the Council for Exceptional Children

It looks like the much maligned title of the nation's largest and most comprehensive education law "No Child Left Behind" might soon be gone, and along with it many of that law's most controversial components. Last week, the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee voted 15-7 to pass NCLB's replacement bill, named the Elementary and Secondary Education Amendments Act out of Committee and to the floor. Read more.  And here too.

Status of the CLASS Program
Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) is a national voluntary insurance program that will give most working adults a new option to pay for services and supports to help them remain independent. Many changes have been in the news related to the CLASS Act. Click here to view articles from The Hill and Kaiser Health News on the CLASS Act. To view Secretary Sebelius' blog explaining HHS's recent actions on the CLASS Act, click here.

New ADHD Guidelines Include Preschoolers, Older Teens

November 2011 Pediatrics; Oct. 16, 2011, presentation, American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition, Boston

The American Academy of Pediatrics has expanded the age range for the diagnosis and treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to children as young as 4 and as old as 18. For the youngest children, the academy is emphasizing the use of behavior treatments over medication in most cases.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_117611.html

Recall Alert:

Nucleus C1500 Cochlear Implant Range

Cochlear Limited (ASX:COH) is undertaking a voluntary recall of the unimplanted Nucleus CI500 cochlear implant range and is currently notifying healthcare professionals and regulatory authorities. While less than 1% of CI512 implants have failed since launch in 2009, Cochlear has identified a recent increase in the number of Nucleus CI512 implant failures. Contact: www.cochlear.com

Local Wellness Policies

The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) issued information on the new requirements for local wellness policies. Local educational agencies (LEAs) are highly encouraged to begin reviewing their policies for the coming School Year 2011-2012, and begin moving forward on implementing the new requirements. Local wellness policies are an important tool for parents, and school districts to promote student wellness, prevent and reduce childhood obesity, and provide assurance that nutrition guidelines meet the minimum federal standards.

http://www.azed.gov/health-nutrition/files/2011/08/cn-07-12-child-nutrition-reauthorization-2010-local-school-wellness-policies.pdf

Findings from Transition Demo Program

The Youth Transition Demonstration: Interim Findings and Lessons for Program Implementation. This issue brief presents findings from an evaluation of the Social Security Administration's Youth Transition Demonstration, six demonstration projects and their impacts on helping youth with disabilities find jobs and reduce their dependency on federal disability benefits. One of the initial three projects achieved statistically significant impacts on the proportion of youth employed during the year following random assignment.

Family Research

In exploring the nature of changing family demographics, interactions between poverty and stress, and the methodologies currently used in prevention and treatment of psychopathology, workshop participants-led by committee chair, Hirokazu Yoshikawa of Harvard University-considered collaborative approaches to describe and assess the impact of families on children's health and development. Proceedings from this workshop are encapsulated in a summary report, as well as a four-page briefing document highlighting the main themes of the workshop.

Health Plan Information Exchange

UnitedHealthcare Arizona Physicians IPA invites DDD/ALTCS members and families to the first annual

Member and Family Health Plan Information Exchange

November 15, 2011 from 6:00 - 7:30 PM

Disability Empowerment Center located at 5025 E Washington Street Phoenix, AZ 85034.

Learn more about your DD Health Plan. Hear a presentation and information on how the Health Plan works and a brief overview of the Children's Rehabilitative Services Program. Representatives from disability organizations will answer questions about available community services and resources. Sandwiches & soft drinks will be served.

RSVP by: November 8, 2011 to: CRS_specialneeds@uhc.com

or call 602-651-6047, after November 4th call 602-255-8245

Community Resource Participants:

• Raising Special Kids
• Arizona Bridge to Independent Living (ABIL)
• Arizona Department of Health Services 
• Children's Rehabilitative Services (CRS)
• Office for Children with Special Health Care Needs (OCSHCN)

Anyone is welcome to attend to gather information regarding community services, resources, and to connect with organizations that serve people with developmental disabilities. The DEC is a fragrance-free environment.

Issues in newborn feeding: Supporting high risk infants and their families

Sponsored by Arizona University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (AzUCEDD) - Indian Children's Program

Friday, November 4th   9:00 am - 4:00 pm (MST)

McGee Auditorium, Flagstaff Medical Center, 1200 North Beaver Street, Flagstaff, AZ

Parking available on both sides of the street. See http://www.nahealth.com/AboutNAH/MapsDirections

Presenter: Joy Browne, Ph.D., PCNS-BC, IMH-E, a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry at the UCEDD, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver.

Space is limited. Priority will be given to health care personnel, therapists, social workers, and educators who provide services on Hopi or the Navajo Nation and/or serve tribal members in border communities. Morning and afternoon beverage and light snack. Lunch on your own.

Contact Selita Mitchell, Selita.Mitchell@nau.edu or 928-523-8026

This event is offered at no charge. To reduce the incidence of no shows please register only if you are relatively certain of your participation.

Documentary

Lives Worth Living, part of the PBS Series Independent Lens, which premiered Thursday. Please check your local PBS station listings and website for subsequent air times on PBS World for November 2nd and November 5th.

Check your local listing: http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/broadcast.html

Provider Fair

Saturday November 12, 2011

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Steele Indian School Park, 300 E. Indian School Road

Phoenix, AZ, 85012

PHONE: 623-760-7530

www.azproviderfair.com

PRICE: Free

This fair showcases services for an individual or a loved one with a developmental disability. More than 60 providers and community partners will be on hand to answer questions about respite, rehabilitation, attendant care, housekeeping, day programs, residential services, employment services and therapies. Families can enjoy food, fun and carnival-style games, bounce houses and prizes.

Please register for all workshops. To register, click on the name of the workshop or call 602-242-4366 or 800-237-3007.

United Way Donations Can Help Raising Special Kids

Make a workplace donation through your employer using a monthly payroll deduction. United Way pledge cards have a Donor Choice location in which to write in Raising Special Kids. Use our United Way Number: 314. Thank you for supporting families of children with disabilities and special health needs! Raising Special Kids is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

 "I hit a point where I felt it was not worth it. I felt defeated. I don't feel defeated anymore. I feel so accomplished. Thank you so much for all your guidance. You made a world of difference in our lives and for my son's future."